The National tribune., 1887-10-27

Enlargement with the enemy's cavalry
and routing them, Bayard and Fitzpatrick
dashed into and captured that place In the
early morning. about the break of day.
The SUCCESS of this undertaking was so
highly appreciated that il secured for Bay
ard a Brigadier- Generalship, and for Kilpat-
rick the thanks of the Commanding General
in orders. ii also brought Fitzpatrick into
such notice that the series OF raids for which
lie subsequently became so famous may be
dated from this period Ordered to destroy
the Virginia Central Railroad, so rs to cut
OF Jackson communication with Richmond,
Fitzpatrick struck this railroad al Beaver
Dam. Frederick Hall and Hanover juno
tiOn, doing great damage, tearing up The
track. burning stations, etc, and, though at
tackled many times by the enemy, he either
defeated them or was able TO retire IN good
orderan without sustaining much loss. Gen.
Pope made official acknowledgment of these
gallant aud important services, and kllpat-
riclS's name and fame
SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE LAND.
These occurrences took place in July and
August l6O2. Ia the rctroErade movement TO
Ccmterville flights the cavalry WAS kept act
ively employed in protecting the rear and
fanks OF tho army; il also participated IN the
battles OF llfanNN Ntallon, ouinhul Hpi8HSoi
Freedmens Ford, Waterloo Bridge, Hay Mar
lset, Grovcton. and, finally, in the disastrous
battle of Bail Run, in August, 1852.
After the last-named battle some time was
spent by Bayard and Fitzpatrick in organizing
the cavalry on a more efficient aud permanent
basis, aud while thus engaged the battles OF
Autietam aud South Mountain were fought, IN
which, because Of the preparations stated, only
a small portion of the cavalry were able 10
take part
Soon after Hooker was placed in command Of
the army the cavalry organization was per-
fccted by the formation of brigades, divisions,
aud, fnally, cavalry corps with Gen. Stone
man commandcr-in-chie Pleasonton Gregg
and AEcrell were appointed division command
ers, and Fitzpatrick was assigned 10 the COM
mnnd Of brigade under Gregg. The Conied-
crates had made a similar organization OF their
cavalry some time previously, but they ridi-
culedaad laughed TO scorn the idea that the
"cLoDHoPPERs" OF THE NORTH
could compete in the saddle with their chival-
ric knights, They soon realized, however, TO
their Cpsl hat they had slightly Underestmated
the capacity Of the Northern youth IN this
regard.
We next find Fitzpatrick and his brigade
with Stoneman when the latter General. with
all fhe cavalry except one division, got in the
rear of Lees army as far as Louisa Court house
Here, the report reaching Stoneman that Lee
Ohu SAMtftN q AelCat ana was ldlilllg DICK on
Richmond, hc issued orders for the destruction
of the bridges over all the roads leading 10 that
city which could by any possibility be reached
by his troops, and to Fitzpatrick was assigned
the extra hazardous duty of destroying the
railroad aud wagonroad bridges on the Chicka-
hOmny within nj least five miles OF the Con-
fedemte Capital The splendid and effective
manner in which Fitzpatrick executed this
command was louGly applauded, and greatly
increased his reputation.
Rapid marching soon brought him within
two miles OF Richmond, and into which he
caused 10 retreat in alarm and precipitation a
large force oi the cnemy's infantry and cavalry.
ii was here that Fitzpatrick captured an Aid
de-C camp and ! 4 of Gen. Minders escort, all of
whom, however, he generously paroled, dating
the paroles from the city of Richmond. Though
exposed to the fire of several rebel batteries,
and shelled by them Fitzpatrick succeeded in
destroying all the important bridges on his
route, iuciadimg that OF the railroad over the
Chckahominy, but i'm doing so. several times
tho destruction or capture Of his whole COM
mand
SEEMED INEVITABLE
and lven.ure the assertion that with less
rcsopte and skllinl leader one or the other Of
these. msioriunes would have happened.
Turning their backs on inhospitable Rich
mond, after accomplishing all that was desired,
they started on the return march 10 their own
Point Ea route they passed through Aylett's
Station, where they ionnd and destroyed large
stores OF Confederate army supplies. From
this time kllpatrick took part in so many
actiops ans movements, tmuspiring one after
another ln rapid succession, that mention can
only be- made OF the more important ones. AT
the desperate battle OF Brandy Station June 8,
leG3, Fitzpatrick SO greatly distinguished him
SELF Commanding brigade under Gen. Pleas
Onton, who had succeeded StOneman as corps
commander, that on the following day he was
made a Brigadier- General. June II X patrick
encountered Fitzhngh Lee mt Aide and after
hcrcciy y-c0ntested night, lasting several hours
he gained a complete victory over his distin-
Rutshed antagonist IL was here that the brave
Col. Cesnola Of the 4th n. Y, so greatly dis.
tingBished himself that Fitzpatrick presented
him with his Own sword, and where few min
utes thereafter, IN a desperate charge, that
officer fell dangerously wounded and wa'
taken prisoner. Shortly after this famous bat
tie Fitzpatrick was placed in command of IN,
Second Division of Cavalry of the newly
organized Cavalry Corps.
GETTYSBURG CAMPAIGN.
We next fnd Fitzpatrick fighting and defeat
ing Stuart, the Confederate cavalry chie!tain
al Hanover, Pa, june 30. 1863. capturing man,
prisoners and q battleilag. This was the frs
battle fought on the free soil Of the North and
the initial one Of the Gettysburg campaign
All who Rre az ali familiar with the history o
this campaign know and appreciate the impor
tance.ot these facts:
j. That the Union cavalry, under the grea
chief, Gen. Alfred Pleasomton, contribute
largely toward Meade's SUCCESS
2. That uAtii after the great battle the Con
federatc cavalry, under Stuart, rendered Le
NO assistance whatever.
According TO the published statements q
Gen. Long. Lees military secretary at fhi
time. Siuarts absence caused Lee not Onl
great anKi'ty, but prevented him from maxim
selection oi time and position before the baitl
commenced Hc SAWS. on pages 275 and 2T7 {
his book on the Life and Services of Gen
Robert j. Lee" This battle was precipitate
by tic absence OF information which could oRl
be obtained by the active cavalry forces, an
their absence prevented Lee from making S,
lection Of time aud position. Ice expressc
surprise, regret aud anxiety at Stuart q sence
And Long plainly ntimates that this fact mi
terinlly hampercd the movements aud disc
gauized Lees plans for the campaign Mead
Oh the other hand
SUFFERED no DISAPPOINTMENT
in his cavalry Oh the contrary, Plcasouto
more liiaH fulfilled his expectations The Fir
division, under Buiord was sent at once
Gettysburg aud This led 10 Cemetery Hill b
ing Sernred by our troops, an advantage
most tl,.i.srHndaDt Importance. The Sec0r
aud THIRD Divisions, under Gregg aud K ipa
rick looked altcr Stuart, and dad the work
ciieetualy that the latter was cut off from Z
communication with Ice when his seryic